He has served in various leadership positions, including senior associate dean for research in the Medical School and U-M interim vice provost for academic affairs

Steven L. Kunkel, Ph.D., has been appointment by the Board of Regents as interim executive vice dean for research and chief scientific officer, effective Oct. 1, 2018.

Currently the senior associate dean for research, Endowed Professor of Pathology Research and Peter A. Ward Distinguished University Professor of Pathology, Kunkel has a long and robust history with the University of Michigan. He has served in various leadership and administrative positions, including the associate dean for interdisciplinary studies in the Horace H. Rackham Graduate School, interim dean of the Rackham Graduate School, and interim vice provost for academic affairs.

His research interests have centered on assessing molecular mechanisms of lung inflammation by studying cytokine and chemokine biology. He is highly recognized in his field, as he has co-authored over 600 peer-reviewed manuscripts, edited four books, contributed numerous chapters in various books, and has maintained multiple NIH grants. He is currently the co-chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the NIAID-NIH.

Kunkel joined U-M faculty in in 1980 and has been senior associate dean for research since 2007.